Dishwashing machine



June 3, 1952 Filed Jan. 14, 1946 E. R. JOHNSON DISHWASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY June 3, 1952 Filed Jan. 14, 1946 E. R. JOHNSON DISHWASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jar/1P. filmmu BY w" M170 raw f ATTORN EY June 3, 1952 E. R. JOHNSON 2,599,110

DISK- WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR IazLEMmsan ATTORNEY June 3, 1952 E. R. JOHNSON DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 [III INVENTOR BY l'arlIRJa/Ezasan W? %I r,

ATTORNEY E. R. JOHNSON DISHWASHING MACHINE June 3, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 14, 1946 II II 11111 1 lNVENTOR ImlJRJabzwam ATTORNEY J1me 1952 E. R. JOHNSON 2,599,110

DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR M111. {IE/2115010 BY fla t ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,599,110 ,7 DI SHWASHING acn'mr: 7 Earl Roycroft Johnson, V Vichita, Kans. T Application lanuai'y 14, 1946; Serial No. 641,054

washing, rinsing and sterilizing dishes, glasses,

articles of chinaware and silverware, and other articles of this character.

'O'ne'object of the invention'is to provide a washing machine particularly designed for household use and adapted to be manufactured, sold and operated at a low cost; 7

Another object of the inventionis to provide a washing machine of cabinet'style, standard cabinet dimensionsand pleasing appearance which is provided with an open top for convenience in insertin'g and removing the dish basket, which opening is adapted to be closed by a hinged lid secured when in closed-position by a manually'releasable automatic latch, and automatically movable a open position when the latch is released. Still another'object of the invention istopro vide-aj washer'which is fully automatic through a working cycle of (1) supplying a hot rinsing spray to loosen and soften grease on the dishes; (2) switching-to a hot sudsing-spray'to complete the cleaning, and (3) then switching toa final hot rinsing spray to flush off the suds and steriliz'ing and drying the dishes, making hand drying unnecessary. 7 Afstill further object of the invention is to providea" washing machine which will automaticallystop at the end of a working cycleand reset itself to repeat'the cycle when desired and which is adapted to be adjusted for a selective action to automatically or not start a working operation when the lid'is closed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine which is operativesolely bywater pressure to perform its working functions at pro erly timed intervals, which dispenses with the of a motor or other complex means to operate its working parts, and which embodies a novel'type of rotary spray device and a simple construction of controlling means for supplying thesver'aFsprays at properly timed intervals.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine which is simple of construction, reliable and eflicient in operation and composed of a comparatively small number of parts of a sort not liable to get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, which will "appear in the course of the 'subjoined description, the invention consists of the novel fea-- tures of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanyingdraw ingsfin which:

12 Claims. (01. 1134- -56) 2 Figrl'is a perspective view of the machine-with its lidor'coverin closed position; 1 w Fig; 2 is a similarview of the'same with the lid thrown open to expose the dish basket-disposed therein; Fig. 3 is a-front elevation of the machine with a portion of its casing broken away to show the dish basket and certain other operating parts of the washing mechanism; 11 7 7 g Fig.4 is a' perspective 'view of the wash basin and parts offthe operating mechanism removed from'the casing; I a -Fig.5-isa perspective view of the parts of the casing disconnected from-each other but arranged in proper relation for assemblage;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the timing tank; a

-'Fig .-7 is-a'v'ertical section through the jet reaction rotary spray device; r I V Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the soap holder;

Fig; 9 is avertical section through the mixing or sudsing chamber; 7

Fig. 10 isa perspective view of the guide bracket Lforminggpartof the two-step latch device for holding and releasing the controlling arm governing the action of the main (start and stop) valvep" Figs." 11, 12 and'13 are detail views of the abutment head of the valve controlling rod form'- ing 'par't of thelatch device;

Fig. 14 is' a view of the valve controlling rod;

Fig. 15 is aview of the rod sustaining spring; and 1.

Figs. 16 to 19, inclusive, are was showing at working positions of the latch devic acting-on the valve controlling arm. V 1;.

Referring nowmore particularly to the drawings,'l designates the casingor cabinet of the washingimachine which may be of a standard cabinet typeand size and which is herein shown ascomprising a frame 2 having a'bottom..3,,front' and rear walls 4 and 5, sidewalls 6 and a top wall connected to the lid and top wall I: and normally act to lift'the lidand hold it in open position. A-

catch [2 is provided at'th front edgeof the cover to engage a coacting keeper or catch member [3 on the wall- 4, wherebythe lid is adapted when turneddown; to be held in closed pesitiorr Tl'ie catch'member I3 is "or resilient type to' recede 3 when engaged by the catch l2 and then snap into engagement with the latter, and a push button I4 i provided whereby the catch member I3 may be retracted to release the catch l2 and permit the closed lid to automatically swing open when desired. 7

Arranged within the casing is a wash or catch basin l5, the upper portion of which fits beneath the opening 8. The walls of this basin are formed at their upper .edges'with flanges [Band [1, where- 1 by the basin is held orsuitably secured in position, the rear flange I! being wider than the side flanges l6 and having a slot or opening l8 therein.

This basin is designed to receive the open wirework or other suitably formed reticulated or open work dish basket I9 having a flanged upper part to rest on the top wall I, saidpart being provided with a rubber sealing gasket 2! against which the lid 9 closes to prevent any escape of fluid when the machine is in operation. This basket is insertible into and removable. from the opening 8. The basin [5 has connected therewith a drain trap 22 which projects outward through the. wall 5 for the-discharge of the waste water into a suitable drainpipe or receiver.

Leading into the casing from a suitable source of -'hot water supply is a pipe .23 which is connected at itsdischarge end with a manifold or distributing pipe 24. In thepipe 23. between its inletand discharge ends is a-self closing starting andstop valve 23 adapted to be opened and closed by downward and subsequent upward movements =01 a lever arm =25.

able and slidable in bearings .30 and depress'ible from a normal position, in which .'it is held by a spring 31, against the resistance of said spring.

The rod 29 is provided at its upper end with 'a handle or knob 32 by which the rod may be depressed or turned to either of two controlling positions, in which the handle register with the indications. on "and Off marked -ton the-casing, as shown in :Fig. 2. when' the handle 32 is in :the ion position the flange 2! overlies the lever arm 2-'5,"so that on the depression of the handle the lever arm will be depressed by the flange 21 to open valve 23 for the flow of hot;

water .1from1pipe23 to manifold 24, and so that upon the subsequent release of the .handle the rod 29and member 25 will be raised by spring 7 3|.to "release the lever arm-and allow'va'lve 2-3. to close to cut off the fiOWOf water; When-yon ,Dathof downward movement of the lid 9, so that when the lid is closed rod 29 will be depressed,

which will result in valve 23 beingopened or not,

according towhether the handle is in the on 1 or ofi position. The operator may thus set the valve actuating means so that valve 23 may be opened or:not in the operation of closing the lidr' Thevalve 23 is also adapted to be auto:

matically closed through the operation of mem-J Disposed :above this arm is a motion transmitting member or controlling arm 26 having a horizontal. flange pant 25! and a'verticaliflange partZ-B. This member 26 is carried by a controlling rod 29 rotat- Theber 28 to cut off the flow of water and stop the machine, as hereinafter described.

Arranged at the upper and lower ends of the manifold 24 are self-closing control valves 33 and 34. The stems of these valves project outward and are engaged by the cross-bar portion 35 of a T-shaped bell-crank lever 36 pivotally mounted at 31 and the mainarm 38 of which is pivoted to a suspension rod 39 carrying a vertically movable timing tank' '40. A;-spring 4| connected to the lever armand rod normally holds the tank elevated and the lever in a position in "which it holds the valve 33 open and allows the from the bottom of the tank is a flexible drain pipe or tube 46 leading to the basin, as shown in Fig. 4., The bore of nipple 42 is of greater diameter than the bore of nipple 44 for a ,purpose hereinafter described.

;Movement of the-lever arm -25 .downward for a starting action on a closing of the lid and lateral movements of the member 26 to on-and off positions are controlled by :actuation of the handle 32, as -previously described. Control of the member 26 for an automaticstopping action is also provided for to effect :thestop'ping of the machine at the .conclusion-ofeach working cycle and in such manner as to allow the timing tank 40.

purpose comprises a compensating two-step latch various working operations to be successivelyperformed by means governed in action by the The -means provided for this or clutch, device for coupling and uncoupling, the member 26 with and from thebell-crank lever 36. This device, as shown in Figs. 16-19 inclusive consists of a stationary guide,- bracket 46 -arranged between the member 25 and part 35 ,of lever 36 and having an elongated vertical slot 41. A control rod 48 passes rthrough said; slot and has freedom of vertical and lateral;

movements therein. One end of this rod rests against the lower edge of :flange 28 of member 7 26 and has secured thereto, by mean of asset screw 49, a ratchettooth-like :locking and .releasing element -or head 50. The other end of the rod has an :angularly bent .portion 5i (Figs. 4 and '14) which engages an opening in :part 35 of bell-crank lever 36 and is held from'displacement bya retaining pin 52. -A spring 53 .con- I nects the rod with the bracket 46 and acts :to normally hold the rod elevated in the slot 41 and. lightly in contact with. the .lower edge of flange .28 of member 26. The element -or head, .(best shown in-Figs. 11, 12 and -13) has-a circular .end portion 50 presentin an abutment face 50 1,12. conical end portion 50" presenting anabutment face 50 andan intermediate small circular neck portion Ell facing :the conical surface 50 of theportion 5i! and forming withand between said portions 50 and 59 alockingqrecess 56%. The operation of this-device will be set forth in the description of the workingoperation'of the machine hereinafter given. I

Associated with the part above; described are? a soap holder 54 (Figs. 4 and 1-8), a mixing or sudsing tank or chamber 55 and a rotary spray device '56. Thesoapholdert i comprises a re ceptacle having an open top-projecting upward through the-rear portion of the .topwall -1 and) normally closed by a removablecap or cover-51,,-

ms holder depends from the wall interna m and fits at its lower end into a flanged threaded opening 58 in'th'e top of the tank '55: At-it upper end the liolderisprovided with a water inlet connection 59 and at its lower end said holder is provided with suds exit holes 60 for passage of the formed suds therefrom into-thetank :55.- Arranged within the holder is a removablesoap screen assembly consisting of a plurality of screens 6| connected to ahandle rod or stem 62. The'holder is designed to receive a'charge ofa suitable amount of soap in powdered formtwhich is dissolved in hot water admitted through the inlet 59 and in the form of a concentrated suds passes through the screens to'the exit holes 60 for discharge into the sudsing chamber 55. The

at its top controlled by a ball checkvalve 62. A-d'rain'tube63 leads from this outlet to the basin [5. A suds discharge tube 64 is fixed to the'top of the chamber 55 and extends outwardlytherethrough and downwardly therein, said tube having an inlet end 65 located-near the bottom ofthe chamber and an outlet end 66 projecting above the top of the chamber. I

Located-in suitable' proximity to the basin I5 is a If-coupling or union 61 having opposite inlet end arms 68 and 69 and an intermediate outlet arm 10. Thearms 68 and 63 have'connected therewith fittings 'll and 12 in which arecheckvalves 13 and 14 each opening in'the direction of 5 the union and closing in the opposite direction.---

The rotary-spray device 56 is of jet reaction type and comprises'a hollow hub 15 (Fig; '7') carrying oppositely extending spray-pipes or arms 16 having discharge slots 16'- therein. Suitable means may be provided or not for varying the effective sizes of these slots. The hub may have an open top normally closed by a removable cap 11 and saidvhub is secured at its bottom to a hollow shaft I8 rotatable in a non-metallic water lubricated bushing 19 disposed in a bearing bracket 80 mounted on the bottom wall of the basin l5 about a water feed opening 8| therein. A bracket piece 82 is arranged to-bear against the'bottom wall of the basin I5 about the opening 8| and is secured with the bracket 80 to said wall by rivets 83 or other suitable iastening means. The bracketpiece 82 is provided with an inlet nipple 84 communicating through the shaft 18 with" the hollow "hub 15 for the flow oi. water under pressure to the hub and arms 16 and discharge through the slots 16', the live water pressure causing rotation of the sprayer as the spray discharges to give a full discharge in a rotary path. The sprayer by jet reactionis arranged in the basin so that the spray is discharged with force against the dishes, etc., contained in the openwork dish basket IS.

The parts above described constitute in general the mechanical features of the washer, the organization of which is completed by the use, in addition to the pipes or tubes 23, 43 and 63, of

the following flow conductors: A pipe or tube 85, leadsfromthe upper" end of the manifold 24 beyond the valve 33 to the fitting II; a pipe or tube 86gleadsfromthe lower end of the mani- 6f foldfl beyondxthe valve3l to the inlet .58 of the soap' holderflp' aip'ipe or tube '81- leads {mm the outlet66'of the sudsing chamber '55 to thefitting 12;:and a pipe .ortube 88 leads from the outlet arml'lo of the Ii-union- 61 to the inlet of the supply-..connections to the sprayer v66. T ;The, operation:.ofv-=the machine is as follows:

.;The dishes: are placed in the dish basket l3, soap: powder is put in soap holder 54, the control handle 32*isitiirne'd'to on position, and the lid 9v 'is'fclose'd': jand latched. (If the control handle were; left in fo'iT' position, the machine would not operate when the lid is closed.) The machine op'erates'entirely automatically ascit goesthroughwi'ts cycleof. (1') supplying a'hot spray of waterrto. soffterr'and loosen the grease on the dishes (2) switching to a'hot sudsing spray'oi soap;dissolved-iniwater to complete the cleaning; (3)."switchingto a'finall'hot rinsing sprayof clear waterto fiushhofi the suds and'to sterilize and further :heat athe'idishes, making hand un necessary; and (4) :turning- .itseli ofi and resetting itself to repeat zthexcyclewhen w desired. 7 When the-control knob 32 is turned' to "on" the angle "shaped arm: 26 on the control' "shaft is I turned to,cover-;the arm'25 of the quick acting valve 23":1 *Theho't iwaterifrom' the source'is al-} ways i available at the' valve .223 i Closing the lid of the machine; pushes the 'control knob 3 32 and shaft 32 9; downward; causing. the upper 11011 zontal: .flange :part. 2110f the angleshaped arm 26 t0' depress the valve arm 26; thus admitting" the high pressure hot' water toithe manifold 24 of I thew-machine. The water then-passes through open ivalve 33 and'pipe' to -T 61 into" which it flows through :checkvalve 13.2 At 5 this time} only :the Lupperwalve 33 of the manifold is" 'ope' f as the timing tank 40 is empty'and the adjustment' spring -"M is so adjusted-"as td' carry the weight of the: empty 'timing tank and to actuate outlet nipple 44 is "smaller t an the orifice of nipplefli This results in the timing tank evens; m ny becomingfilled to the fb ih wh e weight overeomes spring "41 and" swings the bellcrank arm 38 downwardly to allow valve .33 close' 'andi valve 34 t0 Ionn; ITf'Waterj then: flows. through hose 86 to the soap holder-"54 andmixes'; with the soap powder thereintoiorm a-concen-Q trated' suds whichffpass'es out into lthe. mixing chamber 55liwhere it remains 'unt'ilf the mixing chamber is filled; As stated, the amount of soap powder is proportioned to 1 the size of the mixing chamber so that when the mixingchamber. is filled a'uniform. andfproper suds results from the-mixing of the'suds concentrateand thetfol lowing 'water flowing 'into'said chamber.

ball checkair valve 62 allows the escape of air from the mixing chamber, thus permitting the chamber to fill without causing suds to'flow out through the drain tube 63-. As the chamber'becomes filled there is a tendency of the suds to discharge through the ball check air valve, butthe suds, being denser than air.- causeilthe ball ternately opening and closing the second named valves and operative when the main valve is open to close the normally open valve after a period of time and open the normally closed valve and then, after a periodof time, to return the valves to their normal positions. 3. In a dish washing machine, a casing, a lid for closing the casing, a cleansing fi-uid supply means including a startand stop valve, awashing mechanism in the casing, a control device rotatable intoand out of valve operating position and slidable downwardly and upwardly to open the valve and permit it to close, said device being automatically set into operation bythe lid when the lid-is closed to open the valve forsupplying cleansing fluid from the supply. means to the washing mechanism, and means for automatical 1y moving the controller to an inoperative position to' permit the valve to close at the end of a washing operation. I r

4. In a-dish washing-machine,--a casinghaving an opening in its-- top wall, a receptacle within the casing for supporting dishes and the-like while they are being washed, said receptacle being insertible--and removable throughf said opening, a lid hinged to the top of the casing and adapted to close andsealsaidopening, a cleansing fluid supply means-including a normally closed valve, awashing mechanism in the casing adapted to spray the cleansing fluid on articles within the receptacle, a control device adapted when inone position to open the valve and when in another position permitting the valve to close, said control device being constructed and arranged so that it is automatically set in .operation to open the valve by engagement of the lid therewith when the lid is closed, and means for automatically moving the controller to an inoperative position to permit the valve to close at the end of a washing operation.

5. In a dish washing machine, a source of water supply, a sprayer for spraying the dishes, a sudsing means connected with the sprayer for forming with a cleansing agent and water supplied thereto a suds forming solution for supply to the sprayer, an automatically closing main control valve governing the flow of water from the source, conductors connecting the sudsing means and also the sprayer with the source of hot water supply and also the sudsing means with the sprayer, valve means controlling the flow of water from the main control valve to the conductors and operative for alternately connecting said conductors with the source of water supply, a rocking lever controlling said valves, and a gravity operated timer connected with the water supply on the discharge side of the main control valve for controlling said lever.

6 In a dish washing machine, a source of water supply, a sprayer for spraying the dishes, a sudsing means connected with the sprayer for forming with a cleansing agent and water supplied thereto a suds solution for supply to the sprayer,

. a valve for controlling the flow of water, valve devices controlling the flow of water from the first named valve to the spray and suds forming means, respectively, a movable timing device comprising a receptacle supplied with water from the source and a lever operable by movements of the receptacle to control the operation of said valve devices to alternately supply water to the respective conductors for preliminary and final washing actions and an intermediate sudsing action and to then permit the closing of the first named valve, said timing device further comprising a spring which lifts the receptacle when substantially empty and moves the lever to restore the valve devices to their initial positions.

'7. In a dish washing machine, a source of water supply, a sprayer for spraying articles, a suds forming device connected with the sprayer, a main valve for controlling the fiowof waterfrom the source, conductors respectively disposed'between said main valve and the sprayer and suds forming device, valves in the respective conductors, whereby when the main valve is open water from the source will normally bev supplied tothe spray and cut off from the suds forming device, and a fully automatic timerdevice for alternately opening and closing the second named valves and operative during a flow of water andwhen the main valve is open to close the first named con-' trol valve after a period of time and open the second named control valve and then, after a period of time, to return the valves to their normal positions, said timer device comprising a gravity operated water receptacle having water inlet-and drainage means and mechanism operated-thereby to operate the valves. v p 1 8. In a'dish washing machine, a casing; a lid for closing the casing, a'cleansing fluidsiipply means, a'washing mechanism in the casing; and a valve mechanism including a control device engageable by said lid during the closingoperw tions and manually adjustable"to"on*'and ofi positions independent of said lid, saiovawe ine'clianism being operable by the lid to'c'ontrol the supply of fluid to the' washing mechanism hen the control device is in on"po'sition'andbeing inoperative when the control device is in the ofi" position.

9. A dish washing machine comprising, in combination, a casing provided with spraying means for dishes or the like, a main valve connected to and governing the flow from a source of hot water, a mixing or sudsing tank connected with the spraying means, a soap holder discharging into the mixing or sudsing tank, means including conduits and valves for governing the fiow of water from the main valve to the spraying means either directly or by way of the mixing or sudsing tank, timing means operated by the flow of water from the discharge side of the main valve for controlling the length of each phase of the cycle of operation, and hand-operated means to set the flow-governing means to operative or inoperative position.

10. A dish washing machine comprising, in combination, a casing provided with spraying means for dishes or the like, a main valve connected to and governing the flow from a source of water, said main valve being self-closing, a soap holder, a mixing or sudsing tank into which the soap holder discharges, conduit means including a normally closed valve connecting the soap holder with the main valve, conduit means including a normally open valve connecting the spraying means with the main valve, conduit means connecting the mixing or sudsing tank with the spraying means, and means for governing the flow of water from the main valve to the spraying means either directly or by way of the mixing or sudsing tank, said flow-governing means comprising a manually-operated mechanism to start the operation, a timing tank, a filling pipe discharging into the timing tank and coupled with the discharge side of the normally open valve, a drain pipe coupled to the timing tank and having means restricting the flow therethrough so that the timing tank readily fills, lever means, connected. to the timing tank, a spring connected tothe: timing; tank and; lever and: opera-ting to liftthe timing; tank-when substantially empty" thereby tov swing. the. lever, meansr'iconnected with: the lever to operate said normally open and normally closed valves, andothermeans connected. with the lever to; move part of said manually-operated mechanism: topermitthe main valve to close.

11. In a dish washing machine or. the like; a cabinetfon enclosing; articles:tobeacleanedihaving an: opening. topermit insertion and removal. of said articles, and closure means for said opening movableto openorclosed position, spray 'means within. the cabinet, cleaning fluid supply means, and conduit means connecting the spray means with the-source-of. supply, control means for regulating the supply of cleaning fluid through said conduit tosaid spray means,v including; a. member. manually movable to! on? and. oft. positions independent of the closure means, and. being engageable'by saidcabinet closure means. as the closure; means is closed, said member when in on position being operative to actuate-said. controlpmeans' to admit fluid to; said. fluid spray means onengagement. bysaid closure means, and being. inoperative when in the.-off position.

12.. In. a: dish washing machine or thelike, a cabinet for. articles to. be cleaned,having anopening; for theinsertion andremoval of. said articles, closuremeans -forsaid opening, movable to open or. closed position, spray means within: said cabinet: for supplying cleaning fluid tosaid articles, ccnduitmeansforsupplying cleaning fluidto-said REFERENCES CITED 7 Thefollowing referencesare of recordiiim the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,176,125 Benedict Mar. 21,1916 1,399,978 Monaghan Dec. 13, 1921 1,452,710 Schmelzer Apr; 25, 1923 1,483,234. Moore Feb.. 12,. 192.4

1 1,892,291 Falas .Dec..2l7 1932 1,897,821 Boli Febi -14',,1;933 1,908,617 Rodewald -.May 9 ,1933 2,054,30'7 Baylor. Sept. 15., 193.6 2,197,382 Murphy'nus Apr. 16119.40 2,268,953 McGee .Jam.6-,- 1942 2,368,563- Palmieri Jan. 30,..194'5 FOREIGN PATENTS;

Number Country Date 529,986 GreatBritain Dec. 3,194.0 

